The Courtesan Nishikigi of the Yotsumeya Brothel

1776

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, 37.8 × 25.7 cm. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

A courtesan shows off a black robe with paulownia flowers, two young attendants beside her.

Look at the attendants' robes: trellised flowers hinted at women behind the quarter's barred windows.
The designer gave up samurai rank and began in Harunobu's manner.
From a series showing the year's first new robe patterns.

Image: The Met Open Access · Public domain (Met Open Access)